Shaun Murphy blasts snooker chiefs over 'despicable' and 'embarrassing' treatment

Shaun Murphy fumed at Matchroom for the order of play during Monday's Champion of Champions event, given he had only been competing in China four days earlier in the International Championship's quarter-finals. The Magician took to the table in the competition's opening game, where he was handed a 4-1 loss to Lei Peifan.

The 43-year-old claimed that he only found out he was playing on Monday while on his way home from Nanjing, and that he only discovered the tournament's order of play on the morning of the event. As a result, Murphy fumed over the group scheduling after his loss to Lei, telling ITV4: "I conduct myself as professionally as I possibly can.

"I try and treat the game with an incredible amount of respect. I think the way I've been treated by Matchroom in this tournament is nothing short of despicable.

"To find out, in a tournament where they hand-picked the draw and they hand-picked the groups, to find out that I was playing today, halfway through a 36-hour marathon journey home from China, just 48 hours ago. There were three other players in this tournament who weren't even in China last week.

"I think they've covered themselves in a huge embarrassment by treating me with such disrespect. For me to be thrown out first today is nothing short of despicable.

"I only found out today at breakfast that I was playing first at one o'clock. So poor has been the communication. I'm shocked. I've been used to Matchroom being a well-run organisation since I started working with them as a young boy 30 years ago.

"The way they've treated me in this event, with the formatting, is extremely unprofessional. I'm very disappointed in them."

It comes as other players who didn't take part in the International Championship last week, including Mark Williams, Mark Allen and Alfie Burden, are set to play in the Champion of Champions later this week, rather than on opening day as Murphy did.

In response to Murphy's words, Matchroom released a statement which read: "We spoke with Shaun after his match and completely understand his frustrations. Our priorities are the players and we take pride in the fact they consider this event prestigious and want to prepare for it.

"For transparency and fairness the groups are based on seeding. Scheduling is always a challenge every year, but we take on board the points and will always strive to improve for next year and the future."